Marcus Stroman: Missing Lots of Bats

Right-hander Marcus Stroman has pitched very well for the Fisher Cats this season. (Daniel Jarrett/MLB Prospect Portal)

As he gets ready to make his next start for New Hampshire tomorrow, it was Marcus Stroman‘s most recent outing from last weekend that warrants another look. The 22-year-old definitely turned in an outing of top prospect caliber, as he limited the Erie SeaWolves to just one run on four hits in five innings while striking out eight batters — a new career-high.

After getting a pair of swinging strikeouts around a solo homer in the first, Stroman struck out the side swinging in the second inning. Then, following ending the third inning with another swinging strikeout with a runner on second, Stroman got the final two outs of the fourth with more runners on base, this time on first and second.

After the Fisher Cats took the lead and scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning, Stroman ran into some trouble when he came out for the bottom half of the frame. After getting two quick outs, two walks and a single loaded the bases, with Erie center fielder Daniel Fields coming the plate. Stroman got ahead early and ended up falling into a full count, but the New York native wound up getting a clutch whiff for his final strikeout of the game.

What was even more impressive about the outing was that all eight of Stroman’s strikeouts came swinging. It seemed he was generating swings all night, though, as Erie hitters were fouling off a substantial amount of pitches and missing on pitches that weren’t just strike three. It was Stroman’s second consecutive start where he allowed just one earned run, and it was also his second strong outing in a row following his hiccup against Portland back on May 29 when he allowed seven earned runs on seven hits in just one inning.

The New York native currently has a 4.95 ERA in five starts for the Fisher Cats this season, but it’s bloated mainly from that seven-run outing. In his other four starts this season, Stroman has a 1.86 ERA with 22 strikeouts to six walks in 19 1/3 innings.

Friend of the site Daniel Jarrett of MLBProspectPortal.com was actually on hand for Stroman’s dominant outing and recorded some great video of him in action below. For any prospect video, Daniel’s got you covered.

Jared Macdonald

Jared is the editor-in-chief of JaysProspects. A credentialed media member with each affiliate in Toronto's minor league system, he has seen nearly every Blue Jays prospect in person, using information from coaches, scouts, and players to add to his content on the site. His work has been featured in the Toronto Star and on MLB Trade Rumors, among others.